Outpatient cervical conization with the CO2 laser.

Ninety-six patients with grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were treated with CO2 laser conization, and 45 were treated with cold-knife conization. Local anesthesia was used in 83% of the patients in the laser group; the rest received general anesthesia. In the laser group seven patients developed peri- and postoperative hemorrhages. Hemorrhages occurred among four of those treated with cold-knife conization. Laser conization with local anesthesia was well tolerated and can be recommended as an outpatient procedure for patients with endocervical grade 3 CIN or lesions suggestive of microinvasive cancer.